Counselors In Action - Constitution and By-Laws

A. Name and Purpose - The name of this organization is Counselor in Action (CIA) formerly Counseling Graduate Student Association (CGSA). The purpose of CIA is to promote student research, to encourage student attendance at professional meetings and conferences, to provide a student voice in departmental decision making policymaking, to promote counseling interests and awareness, and to provide a body to hear student concerns.

B. Requirements for Membership - Any student enrolled in a formal degree program in Counseling at the Master’s or PhD. Level is eligible for membership and is considered a member of CIA unless that student specifically requests to decline membership in CIA.

C. Provisions for Officers - The CIA will be governed by a Board of Directors composed of four (4) officers. These members shall include President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. In addition, CIA has elect positions of President-elect, Vice-President elect, Secretary-elect, and Treasurer-elect. Those in elect positions are expected to be actively involved in CIA and will take over the appropriate Board position the year following her/his election to the elect position beginning May 1^st. The term of office for elect positions is one year followed by one year of actively holding the appropriate Board positions. Nominations for the elect positions will be solicited in March of each year and the Board of Directors Elect shall be elected by a majority of those present at the General Membership Meeting held in April. The Board Elect shall serve a period of one (1) year, the term of office beginning May 1 and ending April 30^th the year following the election. Any vacancies in the elect positions will not be filled. Nominations for Regular board positions not filled by those in elect positions will be solicited In March of each year and vacant Board positions, i.e. those not filled by those in elect positions will be elected by members present at the General Membership meeting in April. The term of office is one year beginning May 1^st and ending April 30. All vacancies will be filled by the Board.

D. Duties of the Board include:

1. President – shall be the presiding executive officer at the Board and general membership meetings.

2. Vice-President – will act in the absence of the President

3. Secretary – will take minutes of meetings and handle all correspondence.

4. Treasure – will co-sign the funds authorization card with the President; will make reports on expenditures and cash balance.

5. Board responsibilities: shall be the official governing body of the organization; shall meet monthly to conduct the business of the association. All requests for funding will be evaluated at the monthly meeting by the Board and other members in attendance; shall set up and conduct general membership meetings; shall be responsible for generating and submitting proposals for supplementary monies to the GSA council and other organizations.

E. Provisions of Meetings: The general membership for CIA Board shall meet monthly. Board meetings shall be open to all members. The president of the Board shall set and post the meeting times and places.

F. Conduct of Meting and Voting Procedures: Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all meetings and elections.

G. Definition of Quorum: A Quorum shall be a simple majority of those members present at meetings.

H. Provisions for Amending the Constitution and By-Laws: Amendments and ratifications of amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws may be made only at the general membership meetings. Proposed amendments may be made by an member. Amendments shall require a quorum to pass.